Public Records Exceptions Subcommittee

Existing Public Records Exceptions, Titles 22 - 25

Including Subcommittee recommendations made September 27, 2010; October 18, 2010; and November 4, 2010

Revised 11/17/10

Title / Section / Sub-section / Description / Department/ Agency / Comments / Subcommittee recommendation / Advisory Committee Action on Recommendation
1 / 22 / 17 / 7 / Title 22, section 17, subsection 7, relating to records of child support obligors / DHHS /
  • Confidentiality required by federal law as a condition of federal funding
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
2 / 22 / 42 / 5 / Title 22, section 42, subsection 5, relating to DHHS records containing personally identifying medical information / DHHS /
  • Protects sensitive identifying medical info, although some exceptions for research and relatives
  • Maine Cancer Registry supports
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
3 / 22 / 261 / 7 / Title 22, section 261, subsection 7, relating to records created or maintained by the Maternal and Infant Death Review Panel / DHHS /
  • Protects sensitive identifying information, often concerning deceased and other family members
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
4 / 22 / 664 / 1 / Title 22, section 664, subsection 1, relating to State Nuclear Safety Program facility licensee books and records / DHHS /
  • Confidentiality required by federal law involving national security and defense
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
5 / 22 / 666 / 3 / Title 22, section 666, subsection 3, relating to the State Nuclear Safety Program concerning the identity of a person providing information about unsafe activities, conduct or operation or license violation / DHHS /
  • Confidentiality required by federal law involving national security and defense
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
6 / 22 / 811 / 6 / Title 22, section 811, subsection 6, relating to hearings regarding testing or admission concerning communicable diseases / DHHS /
  • Protects sensitive identifying information relating to communicable diseases which might be especially stigmatizing
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
7 / 22 / 815 / 1 / Title 22, section 815, subsection 1, relating to communicable disease information / DHHS /
  • Protects sensitive identifying information relating to communicable diseases which might be especially stigmatizing
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
8 / 22 / 824 / Title 22, section 824, relating to persons having or suspected of having communicable diseases / DHHS /
  • Protects sensitive identifying information relating to communicable diseases which might be especially stigmatizing
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
9 / 22 / 832 / 3 / Title 22, section 832, subsection 3, relating to hearings for consent to test for the source of exposure for a blood-borne pathogen / DHHS /
  • Protects sensitive identifying information relating to occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens which might be especially stigmatizing
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
10 / 22 / 1064 / Title 22, section 1064, relating to immunization information system / DHHS /
  • protects sensitive identifying medical information, protection promotes parent’s willingness to agree to immunization
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
11 / 22 / 1065 / 3 / Title 22, section 1065, subsection 3, relating to manufacturer and distributor reports on distribution of influenza immunizing agents / DHHS /
  • Enacted in a time of vaccine shortage but current data is not reliablyreported and so cannot be used with confidence
  • CAN DELETE
/ 11/4: REPEAL Sub-§3 or all
12 / 22 / 1233 / Title 22, section 1233, relating to syphilis reports based on blood tests of pregnant women / DHHS /
  • Protects sensitive identifying medical information in a vulnerable population relating to infections that might be especially stigmatizing; data protection promotes better public health, especially that of newborns
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
13 / 22 / 1317-C / 3 / Title 22, section 1317-C, subsection 3, relating to information regarding the screening of children for lead poisoning or the source of lead exposure / DHHS /
  • privacy protection encourages parents to have children tested routinely; but it also helps correct problems in the housing market; might prevent some landlords from discriminating againstfamilies with children who have positive lead tests; might be especially stigmatizing
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
14 / 22 / 1494 / Title 22, section 1494, relating to occupational disease reporting / DHHS /
  • Protects sensitive identifying medical information and thereby encourages fullreporting to contribute to the safety of workplaces in Maine
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
15 / 22 / 1555-D / 1 / Title 22, section 1555-D, subsection 1, relating to lists maintained by the Attorney General of known unlicensed tobacco retailers / DHHS / 11/4: tabled
16 / 22 / 1596 / Title 22, section 1596, relating to abortion and miscarriage reporting / DHHS /
  • Protects sensitive identifying medical information in a subject area where publicopinions are highly charged and often confrontational, might be especially stigmatizingin some families and some communities due to religious issues
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
17 / 22 / 1597-A / 6 / Title 22, section 1597-A, subsection 6, relating to a petition for a court order consenting to an abortion for a minor / DHHS /
  • Protects sensitive identifying medical information in a subject area where publicopinions are highly charged and often confrontational, might be especially stigmatizingin some families and some communities due to religious issues
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
18 / 22 / 1696-D / Title 22, section 1696-D, relating to the identity of chemical substances in use or present at a specific location if the substance is a trade secret / DHHS / 11/4: tabled
19 / 22 / 1696-F / Title 22, section 1696-F, relating to the identity of a specific toxic or hazardous substance if the substance is a trade secret / DHHS / 11/4: tabled
20 / 22 / 1711-C / 2 / Title 22, section 1711-C, subsection 2, relating to hospital records concerning health care information pertaining to an individual / DHHS / 11/4: tabled
21 / 22 / 1828 / Title 22, section 1828, relating to Medicaid and licensing of hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities and entities / DHHS / 11/4: tabled
22 / 22 / 1848 / 1 / Title 22, 1848, subsection 1, relating to documents and testimony given to Attorney General under Hospital and Health Care Provider Cooperation Act / OAG / 11/4: tabled
23 / 22 / 2153-A / 1 / Title 22, section 2153-A, subsection 1, relating to information provided to the Department of Agriculture by the US Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service / AG /
  • Necessary to receive info from US Dept. of Agr about tainted food and recalls
  • Not cited to deny FOA request
  • No changes
/ 10/18: no change
24 / 22 / 2153-A / 2 / Title 22, section 2153-A, subsection 2, relating to information provided to the Department of Agriculture by the US Food and Drug Administration / AG /
  • Necessary to receive info from USFDA about tainted food and recalls
  • Cited once to deny FOA request
  • No changes
/ 10/18: no change
25 / 22 / 2425 / 8 / Title 22, section 2425, subsection 8, paragraph A, relating to information submitted by qualifying and registered patients under the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act / DHHS / 11/4: no changes
26 / 22 / 2425 / 8 / Title 22, section 2425, subsection 8, paragraph B, relating to information submitted by primary caregivers and physicians under the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act / DHHS / 11/4: no changes
27 / 22 / 2425 / 8 / Title 22, section 2425, subsection 8, paragraph C, relating to list of holders of registry identification cards under the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act / DHHS / 11/4: no changes
28 / 22 / 2425 / 8 / Title 22, section 2425, subsection 8, paragraph F, relating to information contained in dispensary information that identifies a registered patient, the patient’s physician and the patient’s registered primary caregiver under the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act / DHHS / 11/4: no changes
29 / 22 / 2425 / 8 / Title 22, section 2425, subsection 8, paragraph G, relating to information that identifies applicants for registry identification card, registered patients, registered primary caregivers and registered patients’ physicians under the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act / DHHS / 11/4: no changes
30 / 22 / 2425 / 8 / Title 22, section 2425, subsection 8, paragraph J, relating hearing on revocation of a registry identification card under the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act unless card is revoked / DHHS / 11/4: no changes
31 / 22 / 2698-A / 7 / Title 22, section 2698-A, subsection 7, relating to prescription drug marketing costs submitted to the Department of Health and Human Services / DHHS /
  • Helps predict costs
  • Wouldn’t share if released to competitors
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
32 / 22 / 2698-B / 5 / Title 22, section 2698-B, subsection 5, relating to prescription drug information provided by the manufacturer to the Department of Health and Human Services concerning price / DHHS /
  • Helps predict costs
  • Wouldn’t share if released to competitors
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
33 / 22 / 2706 / 4 / Title 22, section 2706, relating to prohibition on release of vital records in violation of section; recipient must have “direct and legitimate interest” or meet other criteria / DHHS / 11/4: tabled
34 / 22 / 2706-A / 6 / Title 22, section 2706-A, subsection 6, relating to adoption contact files / DHHS / 11/4: tabled
35 / 22 / 2769 / 4 / Title 22, section 2769, subsection 4, relating to adoption contact preference form and medical history form / DHHS / 11/4: tabled
36 / 22 / 3022 / 8, 12, 13 / Title 22, section 3022, subsections 8, 12 and 13, relating to medical examiner information / OAG / 11/4: tabled
37 / 22 / 3034 / 2 / Title 22, section 3034, subsection 2, relating to the Chief Medical Examiner missing persons files / OAG / 11/4: tabled
38 / 22 / 3188 / 4 / Title 22, section 3188, subsection 4, relating to the Maine Managed Care Insurance Plan Demonstration for uninsured individuals / DHHS / 11/4: tabled
39 / 22 / 3192 / 13 / Title 22, section 3192, subsection 13, relating to Community Health Access Program medical data / DHHS / 11/4: tabled
40 / 22 / 3474 / 1 / Title 22, section 3474, subsection 1, relating to adult protective records / DHHS /
  • Medical/psychiatric, HIV and substance abuse information, protected by federal law
  • Release likely to endanger incapacitated and vulnerable adults
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
41 / 22 / 3762 / 3 / Title 22, section 3762, subsection 3, relating to TANF recipients / DHHS /
  • Confidentiality required by federal law as a condition of federal funding
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
42 / 22 / 4007 / 1-A / Title 22, section 4007, subsection 1-4, relating to a protected person’s current or intended address or location in the context of child protection proceeding / DHHS /
  • Confidentiality required by federal law as a condition of federal funding
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
43 / 22 / 4008 / 3-A / Title 22, section 4008, subsection 3-A, relating to the child death and serious injury review panel / DHHS /
  • Confidentiality required by federal law as a condition of federal funding
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
44 / 22 / 4008 / 1 / Title 22, section 4008, subsection 1, relating to child protective records / DHHS / 11/4: tabled
45 / 22 / 4008 / 3-A / Title 22, section 4008, subsection 3-A, relating to records of child death and serious injury review panel / DHHS / DUPLICATE OF 43
46 / 22 / 4018 / 4 / Title 22, section 4018, subsection 4, relating to information about a person delivering a child to a safe haven / DHHS /
  • Confidentiality required by federal law as a condition of federal funding
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
47 / 22 / 4021 / 3 / Title 22, section 4021, subsection 3, relating to information about interviewing a child without prior notification in a child protection case / DHHS /
  • Confidentiality required by federal law as a condition of federal funding
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
48 / 22 / 4087-A / 6 / Title 22, section 4087-A, subsection 6, relating to information held by or records or case-specific reports maintained by the Child Welfare Ombudsman / CWO /
  • Confidentiality required by federal law as a condition of federal funding
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
49 / 22 / 4306 / Title 22, section 4306, relating to general assistance / DHHS /
  • Records include sensitive financial, medical, disability and family composition information that might unduly stigmatize those receiving public assistance
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
50 / 22 / 5328 / 1 / Title 22, section 5328, subsection 1, relating to community action agencies records about applicants and providers of services / DHHS /
  • Confidentiality required by federal law as a condition of federal funding
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
51 / 22 / 7250 / 1 / Title 22, section 7250, subsection 1, relating to the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program / DHHS /
  • Highly sensitive personal information
  • Could be used for identity theft or fraudulent prescribing for diversion
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no change
52 / 22 / 7703 / 2 / Title 22, section 7703, subsection 2, relating to facilities for children and adults / DHHS /
  • Allows persons who report to feel safe in doing so
  • Public should have access relevant to person’s ability to serve the public but not to personal details irrelevant to business’s operations
  • No changes
/ 11/4: no changes
53 / 22 / 8707 / Title 22, section 8707, relating to the Maine Health Data Organization / MHDO /
  • Data release rules
  • Only two requests, one concerned paying for the data
  • No changes
/ 10/18: Table - sub-§2 no change; sub-§4 why MHCFC link?
54 / 22 / 8754 / Title 22, section 8754, relating to medical sentinel events and reporting / MHDO DHHS / 11/4: tabled
55 / 22 / 8824 / 2 / Title 22, section 8824, subsection 2, relating to the newborn hearing program / DHHS / 11/4: tabled
56 / 22 / 8943 / Title 22, section 8943, relating to the registry for birth defects / DHHS / 11/4: tabled
57 / 23 / 63 / Title 23, section 63, relating to records of the right-of-way divisions of the Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority / MTA & DOT /
  • Covers two categories of records
  • Invoked rarely
  • Subject of two Law Court cases, one LD (not enacted)
  • No changes
/ 11/4: tabled
58 / 23 / 753-A / 3, 4, 6 / Title 23, section 753-A, subsections 3, 4 and 6, relating to design-build contracts for state highways REPEALED (see §4251) / DOT
59 / 23 / 1980 / 2-B / Title 23, section 1980, subsection 2-B, relating to recorded images used to enforce tolls on the Maine Turnpike / MTA /
  • Violation Enforcement System; records license plates only
  • See 23 §1982
  • No changes
/ 11/4: tabled
60 / 23 / 1982 / Title 23, section 1982, relating to patrons of the Maine Turnpike / MTA /
  • Toll violation system, as well as any other records
  • Comes into play several times a year; never used in litigation in which MTA is a party
  • No changes
/ 11/4: tabled
61 / 23 / 4251 / 10 / Title 23, section 4251, subsection 10, relating to records in connection with public-private transportation project proposals of at least $25,000,000 or imposing new tolls / DOT /
  • Law became effective July 12, 2010
  • No experience
  • No changes
/ 11/4: tabled
62 / 23 / 8115 / Title 23, section 8115, relating to the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority / NNEPRA / 11/4: tabled
63 / 24 / 2302-A / 3 / Title 24, section 2302-A, subsection 3, relating to utilization review data provided by nonprofit hospital or medical service organization / BOI /
  • No nonprofit hospitals or medical service orgs in Maine
  • No requests
  • No changes
/ 9/27: no change
64 / 24 / 2307 / 3 / Title 24, section 2307, subsection 3, relating to an accountant's work papers concerning nonprofit hospital or medical service organizations / BOI /
  • One nonprofit health care plan in Maine
  • No requests
  • No changes
/ 9/27: no change
65 / 24 / 2329 / 8 / Title 24, section 2329, subsection 8, relating to alcoholism and drug treatment patient records of nonprofit hospitals and medical service organizations / BOI /
  • No nonprofit hospitals or medical service orgs in Maine
  • No requests
  • No changes
/ 9/27: table - no problem with exception, but check with TRecord about making language consistent
11/4: AMEND language
66 / 24 / 2510 / 1 / Title 24, section 2510, subsection 1, relating to professional competence reports under the Maine Health Security Act / BOI
(Board of Licensure in Medicine, the Board of Dental Examiners or the Board of Osteopathic Licensure) / BOI has no role
BdLicMed:
cited 2-3 times per year
PROPOSED: clarify confidentiality applies to all patient complaints
MeHospAssn:
MHA does not administer
Not aware of requests
No changes
BdofDentalEx:
No requests
n/a
MeMedAssn:
MMA does not administer
Don’t know how frequent
No changes / 9/27: table - ask medical licensing boards for input; Consumers for Affordable Health Care input requested
11/4: Tabled until 2011
67 / 24 / 2510-A / Title 24, section 2510-A, relating to professional competence review records under the Maine Health Security Act / BOI
(Board of Licensure in Medicine, the Board of Dental Examiners or the Board of Osteopathic Licensure) / BOI has no role
BdLicMed:
Cited 2-3 times per year
PROPOSED: allow Bd to access peer review reports
MeHospAssn:
Not aware of requests
No changes
BdofDentalEx:
No requests
n/a
MeMedAssn:
substantial experience
not held by public entities so not subject to FOA
no changes / 9/27: table - ask medical licensing boards for input
11/4: tabled until 2011
68 / 24 / 2604 / Title 24, section 2604, relating to liability claims reports under the Maine Health Security Act / BOI
(Board of Licensure in Medicine, the Board of Dental Examiners or the Board of Osteopathic Licensure) / BOI has no role
BdLicMed:
100-200 times per year
No recommendation (other states allow to be released)
BdofDentalEx:
No requests
n/a
MedicalMutual:
Zero requests
No changes
MeMedAssn:
MMA does not administer
No changes / 9/27: table - ask medical licensing boards for input
11/4: tabled until 2011
69 / 24 / 2853 / 1-A / Title 24, section 2853, subsection 1-A, relating to action for professional negligence under the Maine Health Security Act / BOI
(Board of Licensure in Medicine, the Board of Dental Examiners or the Board of Osteopathic Licensure)
(ME Medical Assoc., ME trial Lawyers Assoc., ME State Bar Assoc.) / BOI has no role
  • Records filed with the Superior Court
BdLicMed:
Cited 100-200 times per year, but doesn’t usually receive court documents
No changes
MeHospAssn:
Not aware if requests are made to courts
No changes
BdofDentalEx:
No requests
n/a
MedicalMutual:
No direct role in administration
No changes
MeMedAssn:
MMA does not administer
No changes / 9/27: table - ask medical licensing boards, Maine Trial Lawyers for input
11/4: tabled until 2011
70 / 24 / 2857 / 1, 2 / Title 24, section 2857, subsections 1 and 2, relating to mandatory prelitigation screening and mediation panels / BOI
(Board of Licensure in Medicine, the Board of Dental Examiners or the Board of Osteopathic Licensure)
(ME Medical Assoc., ME trial Lawyers Assoc., ME State Bar Assoc.) / BOI has no role
  • Records of Screening Panels (Judicial Branch)
BdLicMed:
Not cited or applied; Bd doesn’t receive panel information
No recommendation
MeHospAssn:
Only partially administer
Not aware about requests
No changes
BdofDentalEx:
No requests
n/a
MedicalMutual:
No direct role in administration
No changes
MeMedAssn:
MMA does not administer
No changes / 9/27: table - ask medical licensing boards, Courts, Maine Trial Lawyers for input
11/4: tabled until 2011
71 / 24 / 2986 / 2 / Title 24, section 2986, subsection 2, relating to billing for forensic examinations for alleged victims of gross sexual assault / BOI
OAG (Victims Comp. Bd.) /
  • Bureau has no role
/ 9/27: no change -
But note that records not in hands of public entity
72 / 24 / 2986 / 3 / Title 24, section 2986, subsection 3, relating to District Court hearings on storing or processing forensic examination kit of gross sexual assault / BOI
OAG (Victims Comp. Bd.) /
  • Bureau has no role
/ 9/27: no change
73 / 24-A / 216 / 2, 5 / Title 24-A, section 216, subsections 2 and 5, relating to records of the Bureau of Insurance / BOI /
  • Records associated with actual or claimed violations of Insurance Code
  • 2-4 requests per month
  • Subpoena, hearing on motion to quash
  • No changes
/ 9/27: table - ask Maine Trial Lawyers for input
74 / 24-A / 222 / 13 / Title 24-A, section 222, subsection 13, relating to insurance information filed with the Superintendent of Insurance concerning registration statements, tender offers, requests or invitations for tender offers, options to purchase, agreements / BOI /
  • Domestic insurance company corporate transactions
  • Vast majority are in public domain
  • Bureau has issued appropriate protective orders
  • No changes
/ 9/27: table - ask Consumers for Affordable Health Care, TRecord for input
11/4: Divided report - no change 3-1 (SBellows)
75 / 24-A / 225 / 3 / Title 24-A, section 225, subsection 3, relating to insurance examination reports / BOI /
  • Documents relating to examinations of regulated entities
  • Requests extremely infrequent
  • No changes
/ 9/27: table - no problem with exception, but check with TRecord about making language consistent
11/4: AMEND - language
76 / 24-A / 226 / 2 / Title 24-A, section 226, subsection 2, relating to insurance examination reports furnished to the Governor, the Attorney General and the Treasurer of State pending final decision / BOI /
  • Draft report of examination
  • Rarely if ever cited
  • No changes
/ 9/27: table - no problem with exception, but check with TRecord about making language consistent (deem)
11/4: AMEND - language
77 / 24-A / 227 / Title 24-A, section 227, relating to information pertaining to individuals in insurance examination reports / BOI /
  • Final reports of examinations are public; except about insureds and applicants
  • Rarely if ever denied
  • No changes
/ 9/27: table - no problem with exception, but check with TRecord about making language consistent (deem)
11/4: AMEND - language
78 / 24-A / 414 / 4, 5 / Title 24-A, section 414, subsections 4 and 5, relating to insurance certificate of authority audit work papers / BOI /
  • Need exception to access analytical tools maintained by NAIC
  • No requests
  • No changes
/ 9/27: no change
79 / 24-A / 423-C / 4 / Title 24-A, section 423-C, subsection 4, relating to insurance reports of material transactions / BOI /
  • Reports
  • Rarely cited
  • No changes
/ 9/27: table - ask Consumers for Affordable Health Care and TRecord for input
11/4: divided report - no change 4-1 (SBellows)
80 / 24-A / 796-A / Title 24-A, section 796-A, relating to proprietary business information of special purpose insurance vehicle filed with the Superintendent of Insurance / BOI /
  • Info filed by special purpose reinsurance vehicles; none formed yet
  • No requests
  • No changes
/ 9/27: no change
81 / 24-A / 952-A / 4 / Title 24-A, section 952-A, subsection 4, relating to actuarial opinion of reserves / BOI /
  • Supporting information
  • No requests
  • No changes
/ 9/27: table - ask Maine Trial Lawyers for input